After a long run, they were finally able to get rid of the gang of monkeys chasing them.
"Haa...Haa.."
"Hushh!"
Jeremy slumped down on the ground while resting his back on the tree trunk and breathed heavily.
The first day had already squeezed every ounce of his strength, and the last run exhausted everything he had and now Jeremy thought that he couldn't even lift his fingers let alone walk.
Alex stared at the deadweight who was on the verge of dying and put down his backpack.
He wondered if he should cast a spell to replenish his stamina but shook his head.
This was all a part of training to temper one's body.
Alex took out the things from the backpack.
It contains a tent big enough for him and Riya to snuggle in but Riya refused and brought her tent.
"Riya, guard the place while I chop some meat and cook the food," Alex muttered and rolled his sleeves to get to work.
Alex lit the firewood and roasted meat, adding a bit of seasoning and species with a pot to make stew.
Alex used the boar and antelope meat to make the meal and after finishing his job, passed a bowl to Jeremy while taking another bowl, he placed another near the firewood.
Riya's figure materialised out of the shadow and she sat beside Alex.
Riya took a mouthful of stew and licked her lips.
She thought that his Lord could cook so well while she couldn't even cut things properly.
She was only proficient in cutting humans and monsters but not food.
"My Lord, did you notice something?" She asked with a solemn expression.
Alex nodded and said, "Those Monkeys weren't chasing us, rather they seemed to be running away from something."
"And yeah, can't you freely call me Alex like in the academy?"
"Oops! Sorry." Riya struck out her tongue with a cute expression.
"Alex, do you think perhaps they were running away from the undead?"Riya spoke while looking at Alex's solemn gaze.
Alex pondered for a moment carefully and spoke" Riya, I think our assumption may be wrong this time. Maybe we are not the target but the entire batch of second-year students may be the target."
Riya's eyebrows trembled a little and she fell into deep thought.
"Riya, what did you observe while scouting the area? Did you find any odd spots?" Alex asked
"A little north to the location where the monkeys attacked, I felt an ominous aura," Riya answered.
Alex and Riya started to discuss the matter but stopped in their tracks when they heard the sound of bells.
TANG!TANG!TANG!
Alex and Riya quickly got up from their seats when they heard the ringing of the bell.
"Signal of retreat from the higher up."
Before they departed, they were instructed to rush toward the Bark Village if they heard the sound of the bell.
This signalled that there had been an emergency and everyone asked to return.
"Wake up that dimwit." Alex stood up and started packing the things.
He felt that this night may be too long and too dark.
...
In the Bark Village, The Professors who were stationed were keeping tabs on the scores.
All of them would take shifts and would keep a watch on nearby students.
Each of them was given a location where they would observe from behind and would act if the situation arises so that they can try to prevent casualties as much as they can.
"Everyone listen to me." A Professor came hurriedly and shouted, "I have encountered undead on my way and they seemed to be coming here from all directions."
All the Professors were startled by the news and hurried out of the building.
Neon was in charge of the second year as a whole and acted quickly.
"Go and ring the bell. Sent scouts to bring back the students safely. Also, send the call for help to Gawaffin Stronghold quickly."Neon spoke.
"Professor Neon, they are also coming from the other direction. It seems that they are trying to cut off our retreat."
"Shit! What kind of mess did we step in?" A Professor grumbled.
"Inform the guards stationed here. Everyone forms a defensive wall and asks the guards to form the defence while we Professor will try to bring the students. Some of you start the attack and keep them at bay so that the students could approach."
"Open the south gate so that undead mainly flock from there and use the others to take the students in."
Neon and others issued the command and divided the teams and rushed ahead.
The 120 guards stationed in the village under Celestine, a Legendary rank warrior command, acted swiftly to form watchtowers with magical help and started to prepare for the battle.
....
After transferring for an hour, Alex, Jeremy and Riya reached the front gate and were startled to see the huge amount of undead flooding the village.
Earthen and large check posts had been crafted by mages to keep the situation in check.
"How will we get in?" Jeremy was puzzled at the sight of the undead.
Skeletons of monsters, beasts and humans seemed to be flooding the entire place.
Alex stared at the hoard trying to find a less dense post and found a narrow passage near the walls where a group of Professors were keeping them at bay.
It leads to the western gate of the village.
Alex found many students have already returned and taken their posts in defence and offence.
There were archers and mages firing shots.
"I will take the lead and cut the path. Riya, take Jeremy and get inside." Alex muttered.
Riya nodded.
Alex raised his sword and slashed.
A large gust of wind blew and all the hoard were immediately blown away.
Alex cast a mini tornado.
The strong squall of wind sucked the skeletons towards it. Their bones were dismantled and flew into it.
Swish!
The minor skeleton army was all sent flying by Alex.
Alex swung his sword, cutting through the hoard and reaching the passage leading to the gates.
On the way, he found many Disciple-rank undeads led by a Master rank blocking him away.
Alex poured his mana over the sword to engage.
BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!
Small chains of explosions resounded and all the skeletons before him were burnt and engulfed in fire.
The Master rank undead tried to defend but it was instantly vaporised by a strong blast leaving behind a hollow crater on the ground.
"Don't stand, get in." A Professor shouted.
Alex nodded seeing the clear path before him and rushed forward.
Like the swift wind, Riya and Alex passed through the fire pulling Jeremy like a doll.
Alex cut the remaining ones in his path with a piercing thrust
DUSH!
Rumble...Rumble...
The ground beneath him vibrated and bony hands along with claws emerged from the ground.
Alex jumped back and pulled Jeremy's hand from Riya, slammed his body at them and broke them into pieces.
"Kykk!"
"Arghh!"
Alex used Jeremy's body to slam the undead brutally without any tint of mercy using Jeremy's body as a meat shield.
Meanwhile, Jeremy could only scream and curse Alex in his mind.
